Despite adversities, family can say, 'There is a God' (GALLERY)

Janet and Marc Jordan discuss the misfortunes they persevered through in 2012, from house fire to life-threatening injury.

NICK TOMECEK / Daily News

By LAUREN DELGADO / Daily News

Published: Monday, December 24, 2012 at 12:22 PM.

MARY ESTHER — As Janet Jordan talks animatedly, she begins to cough, the words that came so effortlessly a moment ago now stuck. Not missing a beat, her husband, Marc, hands her a small medicine cup of cough syrup, which she accepts with a smile and a swig.

Later, as Marc talks about some of the many struggles the family has gone through this year, Janet puts a hand on his arm with some ready comfort.

The Jordans have taken care of each other a lot this year, not just in the little ways but in every way possible. Despite a devastating house fire and severe medical problems, the family that describes themselves as “barely keeping their nose above water” is counting their blessings this holiday season.

In April, Janet was frying chicken in the kitchen when she began to smell smoke. She left to see where it was coming from and returned to a kitchen in flames, their two fire extinguishers sitting on a windowsill covered in fire from the oven.

Marc was one of the last people to leave the house. When his family began yelling about the fire, he yelled back for them to just put it out, thinking it was small. As he walked into the next room, the fire began spreading across the ceiling.

“We’re happy to be alive,” Janet said.

The front of Marc’s car melted from the heat coming from the house as it sat at the carport, the keys burning inside the home.

“All I could do was sit on the curb and watch my life go up in smoke,” Janet said.

Their home was destroyed by the fire, caused by faulty kitchen equipment. The family stayed for about four days in a hotel through the American Red Cross. They weren’t financially situated to make a move, but it was important to them to have a home of their own, Janet said. They found a home and began piecing back together their lives.

“If you had it once, you can have it again,” Janet said.

Through donations from local organizations such as Catholic Charities and The Salvation Army, they were able to get some furniture, clothing and food. The Jordans are originally from New Jersey, so they began the process of getting new copies of their birth certificates and Social Security cards.

Just as they moved in and started utilities at their new home, a $475 gas bill arrived from their old home. They essentially paid for all the gas released during the fire.

As they were putting their lives together, neither Marc nor Janet realized the new refrigerator leaked.

Janet was frying pork chops when she slipped on the refrigerator water and fell. Her hand hit the front of the stove and the grease landed all over her.

Marc had just stepped into the house from work and heard her screams. He ran to the kitchen, grabbed her, and dragged her to the porch. He started taking her scalding clothes off and dumping water on her, watching as her skin and hair came off.

“There is a God,” Marc said. “She could have died.”

Janet was flown to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, with Marc following by car. As soon as he arrived, she was flown to the University of South Alabama Regional Burn Center, and he drove to Mobile, Ala., crying and worrying all the way.

“I was lost,” Marc said of his feelings at the time. “I was really, totally screwed up.”

About 80 percent of her body was burned, Janet said. She had only been to the hospital to have one of her 13 children before the accident. This hospital experience terrified her; she was given a number of drugs that gave her hallucinations and was tied to the bed to keep her from leaving.

At work, Marc switched shifts and took fewer hours to be there for their kids and make visits to Mobile, but he eventually lost his job. For about two months, he was unemployed, paying what he could to keep the utilities on.

The Jordans have more than $1 million in medical bills. The cost of her helicopter transport alone made Marc wonder if he’d bought the aircraft.

Janet still hasn’t been cleared for work; she said doctors haven’t told her why. Her nerves are damaged and doctors want her to have another surgery to repair her arms, which healed improperly. She doesn’t want to go back to the hospital.

“I can’t afford to be away from home,” Janet said.

Janet still has problems with her breathing, vision and equilibrium. When she’s in a T-shirt and long pants, no scars are visible. When she lifts a sleeve just a fraction of an inch, however, the start of dark scars is seen. Her torso, arms and head were doused in the grease.

“My body is a disaster,” Janet said. “Terrible. I can’t even look at it.”

The children and Marc do the cooking now; she directs them from the kitchen. Marc stays with her during the day, and at night, her children help with whatever she needs.

“To keep the peace, I don’t do anything,” Janet said with a smile.

Janet may be taking back the kitchen, at least for one day. The family was able to afford some extras this Christmas, Marc said, so they’ll enjoy ham and other dishes for their Christmas dinner. Their children will be each getting a gift as well.

“As long as the kids are happy, we’ll be alright,” Marc said.

Despite the struggles they’ve been through this year, the family is still blessed, Janet said. They’re all alive and together.

“2013 should be our year,” Janet said.

Daily News Staff Writer Lauren Delgado can be reached at 850-315-4445 or ldelgado@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @LaurenDnwfdn.

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MARY ESTHER — As Janet Jordan talks animatedly, she begins to cough, the words that came so effortlessly a moment ago now stuck. Not missing a beat, her husband, Marc, hands her a small medicine cup of cough syrup, which she accepts with a smile and a swig.

Later, as Marc talks about some of the many struggles the family has gone through this year, Janet puts a hand on his arm with some ready comfort.

The Jordans have taken care of each other a lot this year, not just in the little ways but in every way possible. Despite a devastating house fire and severe medical problems, the family that describes themselves as “barely keeping their nose above water” is counting their blessings this holiday season.

In April, Janet was frying chicken in the kitchen when she began to smell smoke. She left to see where it was coming from and returned to a kitchen in flames, their two fire extinguishers sitting on a windowsill covered in fire from the oven.

Marc was one of the last people to leave the house. When his family began yelling about the fire, he yelled back for them to just put it out, thinking it was small. As he walked into the next room, the fire began spreading across the ceiling.

“We’re happy to be alive,” Janet said.

The front of Marc’s car melted from the heat coming from the house as it sat at the carport, the keys burning inside the home.

“All I could do was sit on the curb and watch my life go up in smoke,” Janet said.

Their home was destroyed by the fire, caused by faulty kitchen equipment. The family stayed for about four days in a hotel through the American Red Cross. They weren’t financially situated to make a move, but it was important to them to have a home of their own, Janet said. They found a home and began piecing back together their lives.

“If you had it once, you can have it again,” Janet said.

Through donations from local organizations such as Catholic Charities and The Salvation Army, they were able to get some furniture, clothing and food. The Jordans are originally from New Jersey, so they began the process of getting new copies of their birth certificates and Social Security cards.

Just as they moved in and started utilities at their new home, a $475 gas bill arrived from their old home. They essentially paid for all the gas released during the fire.

As they were putting their lives together, neither Marc nor Janet realized the new refrigerator leaked.

Janet was frying pork chops when she slipped on the refrigerator water and fell. Her hand hit the front of the stove and the grease landed all over her.

Marc had just stepped into the house from work and heard her screams. He ran to the kitchen, grabbed her, and dragged her to the porch. He started taking her scalding clothes off and dumping water on her, watching as her skin and hair came off.

“There is a God,” Marc said. “She could have died.”

Janet was flown to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, with Marc following by car. As soon as he arrived, she was flown to the University of South Alabama Regional Burn Center, and he drove to Mobile, Ala., crying and worrying all the way.

“I was lost,” Marc said of his feelings at the time. “I was really, totally screwed up.”

About 80 percent of her body was burned, Janet said. She had only been to the hospital to have one of her 13 children before the accident. This hospital experience terrified her; she was given a number of drugs that gave her hallucinations and was tied to the bed to keep her from leaving.

At work, Marc switched shifts and took fewer hours to be there for their kids and make visits to Mobile, but he eventually lost his job. For about two months, he was unemployed, paying what he could to keep the utilities on.

The Jordans have more than $1 million in medical bills. The cost of her helicopter transport alone made Marc wonder if he’d bought the aircraft.

Janet still hasn’t been cleared for work; she said doctors haven’t told her why. Her nerves are damaged and doctors want her to have another surgery to repair her arms, which healed improperly. She doesn’t want to go back to the hospital.

“I can’t afford to be away from home,” Janet said.

Janet still has problems with her breathing, vision and equilibrium. When she’s in a T-shirt and long pants, no scars are visible. When she lifts a sleeve just a fraction of an inch, however, the start of dark scars is seen. Her torso, arms and head were doused in the grease.

“My body is a disaster,” Janet said. “Terrible. I can’t even look at it.”

The children and Marc do the cooking now; she directs them from the kitchen. Marc stays with her during the day, and at night, her children help with whatever she needs.

“To keep the peace, I don’t do anything,” Janet said with a smile.

Janet may be taking back the kitchen, at least for one day. The family was able to afford some extras this Christmas, Marc said, so they’ll enjoy ham and other dishes for their Christmas dinner. Their children will be each getting a gift as well.

“As long as the kids are happy, we’ll be alright,” Marc said.

Despite the struggles they’ve been through this year, the family is still blessed, Janet said. They’re all alive and together.

“2013 should be our year,” Janet said.

Daily News Staff Writer Lauren Delgado can be reached at 850-315-4445 or ldelgado@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @LaurenDnwfdn.